Despite a quiet year on the blogging front from Timber and Steel 2018 was still a huge year for folk, roots, singer-songwriter and acoustic music with some amazing albums and EPs dropping throughout the year.

So we couldn’t resist continuing the tradition and once again bring you our top albums of the year.

Davis is one of the most talented lyricists in Australia right now and Demons is testament to her talents.

The singles that Emma Davis has drip fed us throughout the last few years have always had stunning production values and this album ties those earlier songs together seamlessly with her newer material to create 38 minutes of pitch-perfect folk-pop.

Go out and listen to Demons from start to finish right now.

2. Laura Veirs – The LookoutLaura Veirs takes a huge leap forward as a singer and a songwriter with an album that’s more complex than her earlier work without losing sight of everything we’ve always loved about her music.

4. I’m With Her – See You Around
Three of the best Americana singer-songwriters coming together for a collaborative album that manages to feel totally modern while still having its roots firmly in folk.

5. Courtney Marie Andrews – May Your Kindness RemainCourtney Marie Andrews is easily the most buzz-worthy Americana artist coming out of the US at the moment and if you listen to May Your Kindness Remain you’ll understand why.

6. John Flanagan Trio – Honest Man
The evolution of John Flanagan continues with his trio (plus more) coming together for an album that leads with its lyrics and then knocks you over with the sheer mastery of the musicianship.

7. Passenger – Runaway
If there’s a year that Passenger releases an album then you can guarantee that’s a year he appears on this list – one of our favourite songwriters.

8. Gregory Alan Isakov – Evening Machines
The long awaited new album from Gregory Alan Isakov lives up to the expectations. Seriously can’t wait to see him when he hits these shores next year.

9. Johnny Flynn & The Sussex Wit – Live At The Roundhouse
While live albums are not usually our cup of tea, Johnny Flynn has delivered something very special here – a career retrospective with all the “hits”, masterfully arranged with The Sussex Wit. Plus we finally have a recording of all three verses of “Detectorists”

10. Iron & Wine – Weed Garden
A beautiful EP featuring everything you want from Iron & Wine. This one was on repeat for much of this year.

11. The Low Anthem – The Salt Doll Went To Measure The Depth Of The Sea
We feel like we’ve been waiting for a new album from The Low Anthem for far too long and when The Salt Doll Went To Measure The Depth Of The Sea we were delighted with the result. A stunning, stripped back piece of nu-folk

12. Old Crow Medicine Show – VolunteerOCMS have doubled down on their old time and bluegrass roots with Volunteer which may be one of their best albums to date.

13. Imogen Clark – Collide
With CollideImogen Clark has really started to embrace her country, pop and Americana roots without losing her confessional singer-songwriter style.

14. First Aid Kit – Ruins
The Swedish sisters have done it again with an album that wears its influences like a badge of honor.

15. Sam Newton – Stare Into The Dark
Sydney’s hardest working singer-songwriter has really delivered with his latest album, leaning in on the full band sound and giving us 11 amazing songs to play over and over again.

16. The Milk Carton Kids – All The Things That I Did and All The Things That I Didn’t Do
The masters of the two part harmony release another gem of an album with All The Things That I Did and All The Things That I Didn’t Do.

17. William Fitzsimmons – Mission Bell
Our love for William Fitzsimmons continues to grow with his latest release. Less stripped back than his previous albums, Mission Bell still captures his wistful, ethereal folk sounds.

18. The Paper Kites – On The Corner Where You Live
The 80s influences have once again be ramped up on The Paper Kites 2018 album On The Corner Where You Live, but their folk roots are still there to be uncovered.

19. Marlon Williams – Make Way For Love
A big part of me hopes that half the people who saw Marlon Williams’ cameo in A Star Is Born went out and bought Make Way For Love and fell in love with the New Zealand crooner. This man deserves to be a superstar.

20. Whoa Mule – Get You House In Order
Possibly our favourite bluegrass and old time group in Australia right now. Their musicianship is outstanding and sets the bar very high for the rest of us.

21. Mustered Courage – We Played With Fire
The boys make a huge splash on their latest album with some tight bluegrass inspired tunes including a killer collaboration with Fanny Lumsden on “Best Impressions”.

22. Lúnasa – Cas
There’s a reason that Lúnasa are considered the premiere trad band in the world right now – Cas is a truly a masterpiece.

23. Kasey Chambers – Campfire
With each album Kasey Chambers is leaning more heavily on the roots and Americana parts of her sound and we love it.

24. Various – Take Me To Town: An Australian Alternative Country CompilationTake Me To Town: An Australian Alternative Country Compilation captures an important point in the Australian Americana and alt-country story, showcasing the quality songwriters and artists who make up the local scene. A must have for anyone who considers themselves a fan of Australian country music.

25. Tim Hart – The Narrow Corner
The long awaited new solo album from Boy & Bear alumni Tim Hart is another lesson in heart-on-sleeve lyrics and understated folk song writing.